Visual and Performing Arts News

Amahl and the Night Visitors Auditions

Published November 11, 2013

Auditions for the opera “Amahl and the Night Visitors” take place Sunday, December 8, from 6-9 pm in Rozsa 120 (choir room).

For the first time since 1998, the Visual and Performing Arts department presents Menotti’s beloved chamber opera, Amahl and the Night Visitors. Set near Bethlehem in the 1st century, Amahl is the heartwarming tale of a poor crippled shepherd boy and his mother, who unexpectedly play host to three kings on their way to Bethlehem. As the shepherds struggle to understand why the kings should carry rich gifts to an unknown child when their own needs are so great, a miracle occurs that blesses everyone, kings and shepherds alike.

Amahl and the Night Visitors runs Friday, April 11 and Saturday, April 12 in the Rozsa Center. Rehearsals will begin in early February.

Auditions are open for the following roles:

Amahl (boy soprano or female soprano)
King Kaspar (tenor)
King Melchior (baritone)
King Balthazar (bass)
Page (bass-baritone)
Shepherds (SATB double chorus)

Individuals should come prepared with two contrasting pieces that showcase their voice, musicianship, and dramatic abilities. An accompanist will be provided.

The December 8 auditions will take place in half-hour blocks according to the following schedule:

6:00-6:30
6:30-7:00
7:00-7:30
7:30-8:00
8:00-8:30
8:30-9:00

Those interested in signing up for an audition block should email Dr. Joel Neves at jbneves@mtu.edu.

Larson’s Class Brings Dinosaurs

Published November 6, 2013

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Dinosaurs invade rock garden
Students create wooden dinosaurs for theater class project

Some think dinosaurs are frightening, but there is no need to fright over the wooden additions to the Rock Garden outside of Fisher Hall. The dinosaurs were constructed as a project for Kalen Larson’s Advanced Backstage Technology class.

Read more at the Michigan Tech Lode, by Sasha Burnett.

New Faculty Member Josh Loar

Published October 30, 2013

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Josh Loar, BA

Josh Loar joins the Department of Visual and Performing Arts as a professor of practice. Loar earned his BA in Theater from the University of California, Los Angeles. He also studied audio technology at the SAE Institute of Technology.

Loar has experience in sound design, acoustics and venue design, consultation, composition, arrangement/orchestration, projections design and engineering.

He has served as president, CEO, designer, composer and producer for Electric Lights Music. He was a lecturer and sound supervisor at the Yale School of Drama/Yale Repertory Theater and an audio video engineer for Technical Multimedia Design, Inc. He is currently an audio systems design consultant for Walters-Storyk Design Group.

VPA Students Showcase Their Talents at Safehouse

Published October 30, 2013

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Safehouse

Haunted houses are intimidating enough, but throw one into a college dorm and there is a recipe for something straight out of your nightmares. That is exactly what the Inter-Residential Housing Council (IRHC) has been doing every year since 1988 in their annual Safehouse event.

Sound and Lighting Services will also be showing off some of their newest technology in the Douglass Houghton Hall ballroom during the event. This is a new feature that has been added for this year.

Read more at the Michigan Tech Lode, by Evan Mayer.

Safehouse a success

Adding to the usual attractions at DHH was a special feature set up by the Sound and Lighting Services student group on campus, which used various effects to turn the ballroom into a creepy mine. Jon Faror, Programming Chair for IRHC, said, “Their goal was to make a professional-style haunted house that is very high-tech. Hopefully we’ll be able to turn this into a tradition that they do every year.”

This year’s winning scary hall was TreeHouse’s “haunted forest” theme. They outdid their competitors by only 2/3 of a point. Agency and Nightclub (of Visual and Performing Arts) took second but only by .2 points, with their “cult” theme.

Read more at the Michigan Tech Lode, by Rand Silvers.

Tech set to host Safehouse

Halloween is on the horizon and Michigan Technological University students living in residence halls are preparing to host Safehouse, an annual tradition that invites kids from the local community into the halls to enjoy themed decorations and tons of candy.

Read more at the Mining Gazette, by Stephen Anderson.

Rose and the Rime Auditions

Published October 22, 2013

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ROSE AND THE RIME AUDITIONS

Calling all dancers, actors, and gymnasts! Auditions for Rose and the Rime will be Monday, October 28, and Wednesday, October 30, 7 pm in Rozsa 120 (Choir Room).

Rose and the Rime is a spectacular modern fairy tale of courage and hope in the face of adversity and fear. The fable features Rose, a very special girl who embarks on an adventure to save her town, Radio Falls, Michigan, from perpetual winter. The play includes dance, and original music composed by students.

Rose and the Rime will be performed next semester, however there will be a large dance/aerial component to the show that will require rehearsals and preparation this semester. One dance form we hope to feature is aerial work. Roles are available for non-dancers as well. You may sign out a script from the VPA office, Walker 209.

Aerial Silks Clinics:
- Friday, October 25, 2 pm-5 pm, McArdle Theatre
- Saturday, October 26, 2 pm – 5 pm, McArdle Theatre

Come for as long as you can, especially if you have never worked with silks before.

Auditions:
- Monday, October 28, 7pm-10 pm, Rozsa 120 (Choir Room)
- Wednesday, October 30, 7 pm – 10 pm, Rozsa 120 (Choir Room)

The dance portion of the audition will include a quick warm up and a few simple combinations. We ask that performers come prepared with a short (30 second) sample of their abilities. This is to be used as an opportunity to showcase your strengths and ability as a dancer/gymnast. The aerial silks portion of the audition will include basic exercises that will test performers’ grip and arm strength and provide opportunities for everyone to demonstrate skills learned in the Open Clinics. Performers should wear form fitting clothing that is easy to move in.

Rehearsals:
- Some initial rehearsals will occur throughout the rest of fall semester
- January 12- 30, 7-10 pm (Sunday-Thursday, probable weekend dance calls)
- Technical Rehearsals: January 31 7-10 pm, February 1-2 all day
- Technical Dress Rehearsals: February 3-5, 6 pm – 11 pm (potentially)

Performances:
- February 6-8, 6:30 – 10:00 pm
- Brush-up rehearsal: February 12, 6:30 – 10:00 pm
- February 13-15, 6:30 – 10:00 pm

For more information about Rose and the Rime contact Patricia Helsel helsel@mtu.edu

For dance-specific questions, contact Mary Muncil memuncil@mtu.edu

KSO Recital Friday, October 18, 2013

Published October 17, 2013

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The Keweenaw Symphony Orchestra presents a free Fall Music Recital on Friday, October 18, at 7:00 pm at Portage Lake United Church. This recital’s theme—The Four Seasons—invites beautiful and compelling vocal and instrumental music, including performances by woodwind quintet, guitar solo, vocal solo, viola quintet, and flute solo.

There is no ticket price for the recital, but a $5 donation toward the KSO and PLUC is accepted at the door. There a nice reception after the performance.

Brighton Beach Memoirs

Published October 17, 2013

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Brighton Beach Memoirs comes to Michigan Tech

Michigan Tech student Toby Mahan plays the main character and narrator, Eugene.

“He’s a classic 15-year-old boy,” said Mahan. “He’s just discovering girls now, so it’s a confusing and very exciting time in his life. And when he has his aside, he has these brief moments of wisdom.”

Read more and watch the video at Upper Michigans Source, by Sarah Blakely.

Another opening, another show

Pictured, from left, are Kate Van Susante, Dollcie Webb, Annika Seigel (hidden), Audrey Ortiz and Toby Mahan.

Read more at the Mining Gazette, by Scott Viau.

Tech Theatre Company to present Neil Simon play Oct. 17-19, 24-26

Brighton Beach Memoirs is a witty, yet poignant recollection of growing up during the Depression.

Pep Band versus Jumbotron

Published October 15, 2013

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Jumbotron replaces Pep Band’s role in hockey

One of the main changes is the replacement of the pep band’s part in our Team’s entrance and introduction with prerecorded music.

Read more at the Michigan Tech Lode, by Zach Evans.

Dean’s List Spring 2013

Published October 15, 2013

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Spring 2013 4.0
Dames, Stuart R* FR SFAT
Johns, Lindsey L* SR SFSD
Moths, Jonathan D* SR SFAT
Schumaker, Courtney L* JR SFSD

Spring 2013 3.99-3.50
Flannery, Alex R SO SFAT
Kirby, Paul R SR SFAT
Koch, Anthony K SO SFAT
McCloskey, Luke T SO SFSD
Nanney, Matthew S SR SFET
Nellis, Daniel S SO SFAT
Pew, Mason D SO SFSD
Putzig, Renata M SR SFAT
Rautiainen, Lotta M SU SFAT
Scott, Jason A SO SFET
Stack, Victoria M SO SFSD
Trevino, Christopher A SR SFSD
Villa, Andrew B SR SFSD

October Arts at Michigan Tech

Published October 3, 2013

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Please join us at the Rozsa Center and McArdle Theatre for arts events in October. From romantic nights at the symphony, to “Pep Band Mania,” to Neil Simon coming-of-age tales, to Cloud Cult’s “good good friends,” to Ray Bradbury’s cautionary tale of technology and humanity colliding, disastrously: October will draw you in, entertain at the least, and challenge your assumptions. Enjoy all the arts have to offer at Michigan Tech!

For more details see visit rozsa.tickets.mtu.edu.

From Tech Today, submitted by the Rozsa Center for Performing Arts.